Verdict in First Street stabbing to be announced by judge Monday

Jason Trickett during the first day of his trial at the Penobscot Judicial Center in Bangor Monday. Trickett is charged with manslaughter for the fatal stabbing of Andy Smith on First Street on May 22nd 2012.

Trickett was charged in June 2012 with manslaughter in connection with the stabbing death of Smith on First Street. He did not take the stand during his trial but his attorneys argued that Trickett acted in self-defense.

“To claim self-defense Mr. Trickett had to believe that Andy Smith was going to use unlawful deadly force against him or others and he had to believe that he had to use deadly force to defend himself or others,” Assistant Attorney General Andrew Benson said in his closing statement. “The evidence simply does not show that.”

In his first interview with police on May 22, 2012, Trickett denied stabbing Smith.

Smith died of a stab wound to the heart, according to a stipulation submitted to the judge. His blood alcohol level at the time of his death was 0.16, or twice the legal limit to operate a vehicle legally.